[Sherdog_Mutt]

Originally Posted by Zankou

I think he is thinking you can underhook the free leg with your arm. However that is not possible if your opponent is playing this position right -- you will have much more luck hooking it with your leg than arm.

As for the rest of the thread, I am going to take my time to absorb and visualize the half guard goodness!

That's what I thought he meant.

Let me know how sweeps 1 and 2 work out for you. They literally revitalized my half-guard as nearly all of my teammates had been resorting to this position to pass my half-guard.

[Zankou]

Originally Posted by Sherdog_Mutt

That's what I thought he meant.

Let me know how sweeps 1 and 2 work out for you. They literally revitalized my half-guard as nearly all of my teammates had been resorting to this position to pass my half-guard.

I have some comments on those two. Here they are:

1) Modified Upa Sweep- This is also a great sweep option for whenever you lose the underhook battle and are cross faced by the guy (the harder the crossface the better cause he can't post that arm). This high percentage sweep usually starts with the half-guard player possesing a weak underhook (weak in the sense that the guy has turned his back to you so you can't try taking his back and the arm is in danger of getting kimura'd). I start by switching my half-guard. My left leg keeps his right leg trapped and starts stretching out his base (pulling his right leg to his right). This brings his left leg within easy reach of my right leg. I step over his left leg with my right and trapping it (just like traditional upa escape). I then post my left leg (releasing his trapped leg) and simultaneously bridging hard over my right shoulder. This is the highest percentage option I have found. It works great the majority of the time. At worst, I wind up on my knees in position to finish a double leg or single leg.

Comment: I've seen this on the Jen set, and I've used it with success. For whatever reason, my brain seems to have forgotten it recently. My one question is this: arm position. Where are you keeping your arms?

2) Rolling over sweep- This used to be a low percentage sweep for me. However, my teammate Shoyoroll modified some of its details and it's now a high percentage option for me. Shove the top guy's left arm down and to the left with your left arm. Grab the pants of his untrapped leg at the knee with your right arm and force it in the same direction as the left arm. While keeping your grips, when you start encountering resistance from him, roll over your left shoulder (important to go in this direction). His own momentum from resisting you will cause him to go over for an easy sweep. If you're wondering what to do if he doesn't push back against your pushing, simply release half-guard and take his back.

Comment: I enjoy this sweep, super slick, though I usually use it as a momentum sweep off a z-guard scissor sweep attempt. Do you really get this when he has his back to you? And how are you getting control of his left arm? I take it you have both arms behind the back, and are not leaving one behind as an underhook? I'm not understanding the arm positioning.

In general, I've been avoiding this position because my game has mutated into more of a quarter guard/half butterfly/z guard lately. I've decided that with my build, I just don't like scooting under my opponent, unless it's for deep half guard. So people haven't been putting it on me as much.

[StevieSparkZ]

Zankou, I've been into half guard a lot myself but quarter guard is gi only right? So would your no gi game be half butterfly/z guard only or...

[Zankou]

Originally Posted by StevieSparkZ

Zankou, I've been into half guard a lot myself but quarter guard is gi only right? So would your no gi game be half butterfly/z guard only or...

I almost never roll no-gi, but when I do it's a more basic game -- z guard, regular underhook half guard, and deep half guard.

[BeRGLeZ]

Omg wow. I was about to make a thread on this LOL!
#1 and #2 sound logical and effective.. I'll have to try it out! I play alot of half guard and that very pass shuts me down every time.
Cheers dude!

[Sherdog_Mutt]

Zankou: Sorry about the confusion. I re-read my post and I noticed how I was really vague about arm positioning.

For #1, I keep my "weak underhook" with my left arm and my right hand is gripping his left knee. I like to set up my sweep by making a half-hearted attempt to roll the guy to my left (lifting up the left leg) and rolling my hips a bit to the left. They usually overreact to this putting them in great position for the sweep and I quickly switch over to the #1 sweep.

For #2, i grip the guy's left elbow with my left hand and have a grip on the guy's left leg at the knee. I know the z-guard sweep that you're referring to and the mechanics are similar. Believe it or not, I have been nailing this sweep at a high percentage. It just surprises the hell out of guys cause they don't expect someone to try an over the head roll while in half-guard.

[Aesopian]

Those #1 and #2 sound very promising. I'll be drilling those next chance I get. Thanks!

My two best counters come from Mike Sweeney of SBG Canada and Kesting's half guard DVD.

Since the names #1 and #2 are taken, I'll call mine...

A) Trapping their right leg. They turn but don't have the crossface. Make sure my elbows jammed into their back so they can't scoot up and trap my arms over my head. I reach down with my right hand and grab their left (untrapped) ankle. My right leg stays crossed over their ankle and I put in my left butterfly hook. Lift with my butterfly hook, lift their ankle, shrimp my hips under them and come out behind them, taking the back (or at least having them spin back into my guard).

B) Turn on my right side and get myself propped up on my right elbow. My left hand grabs the belt (if it's gi) and the elbow keeps jamming into their back. I wait for the moment when they free their leg, then I shrimp up, pulling my right knee up and throw them to my left, coming up behind them and taking their back.

Great topic, keep it going.

[StevieSparkZ]

Originally Posted by Aesopian

Those #1 and #2 sound very promising. I'll be drilling those next chance I get. Thanks!

My two best counters come from Mike Sweeney of SBG Canada and Kesting's half guard DVD.

Since the names #1 and #2 are taken, I'll call mine...

A) Trapping their right leg. They turn but don't have the crossface. Make sure my elbows jammed into their back so they can't scoot up and trap my arms over my head. I reach down with my right hand and grab their left (untrapped) ankle. My right leg stays crossed over their ankle and I put in my left butterfly hook. Lift with my butterfly hook, lift their ankle, shrimp my hips under them and come out behind them, taking the back (or at least having them spin back into my guard).

B) Turn on my right side and get myself propped up on my right elbow. My left hand grabs the belt (if it's gi) and the elbow keeps jamming into their back. I wait for the moment when they free their leg, then I shrimp up, pulling my right knee up and throw them to my left, coming up behind them and taking their back.

Great topic, keep it going.

For option B, what would you do if it's no gi and there is no belt to grab?

[ShanghaiBJJ]

Thanks for posting these Sherdog_Mutt.

Here are some questions I have.

Originally Posted by Sherdog_Mutt

1) Modified Upa Sweep- This is also a great sweep option for whenever you lose the underhook battle and are cross faced by the guy (the harder the crossface the better cause he can't post that arm). This high percentage sweep usually starts with the half-guard player possesing a weak underhook (weak in the sense that the guy has turned his back to you so you can't try taking his back and the arm is in danger of getting kimura'd). I start by switching my half-guard. My left leg keeps his right leg trapped and starts stretching out his base (pulling his right leg to his right). This brings his left leg within easy reach of my right leg. I step over his left leg with my right and trapping it (just like traditional upa escape). I then post my left leg (releasing his trapped leg) and simultaneously bridging hard over my right shoulder. This is the highest percentage option I have found. It works great the majority of the time. At worst, I wind up on my knees in position to finish a double leg or single leg.

How do you keep him from gaining mount? I actually wait for my opponent to try to Upa me, when I am in this position on top. How do you ensure he rolls with you? Is it the grip on the left leg?

6) Kimura or americana options- If the top guy goes for either one of these submissions while in your half-guard. Immediately shove your left arm into your side (his arms are pinned and can't post). Grab his left leg and roll him to your left.

I try to avoid rolling to top when someone goes for the Kimura, as they can finish it easier from bottom than from top half.
I actually learned that when you attack from top, you roll to bottom to finish...

Comment?

THX


B

[tudor_bjj]

Originally Posted by Zankou

In general, I've been avoiding this position because my game has mutated into more of a quarter guard/half butterfly/z guard lately. I've decided that with my build, I just don't like scooting under my opponent, unless it's for deep half guard. So people haven't been putting it on me as much.

Zankou, what's your build? And why exactly did you give up scooting under the opponent?